Anyone read this book? A lot of people called it 'Harry Potter for adults', but I disagree. It was a very different book, reminded me of a history book actually, but I loved it, it was interesting and at times funny.

I thought of him being Dumbledore with regard to his relationship with Childermass. I've lent the book out to a friend so I can't say where or when these refernces occur, but...

********SPOILERS************

Why else would Childermass stay with Norrell? He's the only one who talks back to him, the only one who can contradict Norrell. He's got some magical skills, and yet Norrell keeps him on, when he wants to ban all other magicians. Plus, you get the sort of odd couple vibe...Norrell very fussy, Childermass a dirty rascal (him and Stephen Black are my favorite characters)...just sorta felt like that more was going on between the two of them.

It just felt too me like it could be construed that way, and it would keep with the timeframe the book is set in that it would not be mentioned explicitly by the author or by the characters. When I get the book back I'll have some particular pages to point out.

Not that any of it matters, it doesn't change the characters in any way, but it does lead to some thinking about the lives/universe of the characters.

Personally, I'm an atheist in the voting booth and a theist in the movie theatre. I separate the morality of religion with the spirituality and solace of it. There is something boring about atheism.

I pickled it up, but haven't gotten to it yet... right now I'm on Dharma Bums upon Burl's and other folks' recommendations. Better than On the Road? I'm not sure yet, but so far I'm really enjoying it. It definitely doesn't start as slowly as On the Road.

keepcoolbutcare wrote:I thought of him being my lover with regard to his relationship with Childermass. I've lent the book out to a friend so I can't say where or when these refernces occur, but...

********SPOILERS************

Why else would Childermass stay with Norrell? He's the only one who talks back to him, the only one who can contradict Norrell. He's got some magical skills, and yet Norrell keeps him on, when he wants to ban all other magicians. Plus, you get the sort of odd couple vibe...Norrell very fussy, Childermass a dirty rascal (him and Stephen Black are my favorite characters)...just sorta felt like that more was going on between the two of them.

It just felt too me like it could be construed that way, and it would keep with the timeframe the book is set in that it would not be mentioned explicitly by the author or by the characters. When I get the book back I'll have some particular pages to point out.

Not that any of it matters, it doesn't change the characters in any way, but it does lead to some thinking about the lives/universe of the characters.

Wasn't Childermass his man servant, in a non sexual way? Or am I too naive?

And I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It was a great great book. And like someone mentioned, don't skip the footnote. They help flesh out the story quite a bit.

And I also disagree about the H@rry Potter for Adults quote. It's more like reading an historical fiction.

absouletly great book, and youre right the footnotes are well worth the exra reading. i read this and then heard about that film chris nolans doing with jackman and it sounds like a very similar plot, whats that about?

I really wanted Jonathan and Mrs Strange to be reunited in the end. I understand she needed an excuse for the disappearance of English Magic, but the Love story between those two really got to me, and I wnated them to be happy in the end. I read the book quite a while ago, and it is out on loan to my sister right now, so I can't recheck my facts, but doesn't he hide his soul, or his heart or something like thayt in her pocket out of his true love for her? I don't know. Might just be me, but after spending that much time with the Stranges, I really wanted them to be ahppy in the end. Norrell on the other hand, screw him!

I'm less than halfway through, but like the Song of Ice and Fire books that means I'm probably like 400 pages in. It's a mighty tome, and/or paperweight.

It's hard to make sense of the plot as of yet, as the story consists mostly of set-up and some surreal vignettes. The thing that strikes me the most about these, besides for how evocative they are, is that they feel like they were inspired by actual dreams that the author had. They have that quality to them that's hard to fake. So it's got authentic dreamlike atmosphere coming out the wazoo, even if the story up to this point has been rather slight. However a larger mystery seems to be unfolding with the man in the green coat and his plans for a new Britain that has me hooked. The definition of a page-turner, and I urge any fantasy, 'bronze goggles' or Neil Gaiman fans to give it a look. AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF YOU OUT THERE, YOU LURKERS, SCOUNDRELS, POSEURS AND REPROBATES! Seriously, let's book-club this shit.

keepcoolbutcare wrote:If you've read it...do you think Norrell is Dumbledore? (That's not a spoiler or anything, it's never mentioned in the text and it has no bearings on the book.)

My answer to this would be a tentative 'yes'. Old English gentleman's clubs and male relationships in general had a bit of a homoerotic (or at least Lil' Rascals, He-Man Woman Haters) vibe to them, and Susanna Clarke seems to know more than enough of her English history to know this. So it can certainly be read that way. But there are also a few pointed remarks (especially so since they serve as the cappers of their chapters) where Norrell seems to indicate a peculiar jealousy of Mrs. Strange, and anyone else who takes up Jonathan's time. Maybe just because he's excited to have found someone 'like him,' but again... it can be read several ways. Right or wrong, the thought certainly struck me before I even noticed your comment.

NANCY TARTAGLIONE wrote:Ramping up its event drama output, BBC One has commissioned three new series for 2013. Period fantasy drama Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell is a six-part series based on the best-selling novel by Susanna Clarke and adapted by Wallander‘s Peter Harness. The book is an alternate history of England set during the Napoleonic Wars and focusing on a magician and his apprentice who use their powers to help the government but who are ultimately pitted against one another. New Line optioned the movie rights back in 2005 with Christopher Hampton adapting, but the film was never made. The series is produced by Cuba Pictures in association with Feel Film and Farmoor. Cuba recently produced Rufus Norris’ well-received festival title Broken. Toby Haynes, who directed the Season 2 Sherlock finale, The Reichenbach Fall, is helming. Nick Hirschkorn and Nick Marston are producers, Justin Thomson-Glover, Patrick Irwin and Matthew Read are exec producers.

Just finished the whole dang thing. So cool. Here's hoping that the adaptation does it justice. The fact that it's being made by the BBC Wallander crew gives me hope, but I imagine it'll be awful expensive.